(index / closing price / change items /% change)

Nikkei +61.46 19961.55 +0.31%

TOPIX +1.67 1586.86 +0.11%

Hang Seng +110.13 25125.55 +0.44%

CSI 300 +18.95 3356.65 +0.57%

Euro Stoxx 50 -22.19 3623.55 -0.61%

FTSE 100 +1.39 7386.63 +0.02%

DAX -46.40 12711.06 -0.36%

CAC 40 -17.04 5383.42 -0.32%

DJIA -23.69 20919.42 -0.11%

S&P 500 -5.19 2394.44 -0.22%

NASDAQ -13.18 6115.97 -0.22%

S&P/TSX -82.66 15550.55 -0.53%

Major US stock indices showed a weak decline, as political uncertainty in the US sent investors in search of safer investments, such as gold and the Japanese yen.

In addition, as it became known, producer prices in the US rose more than expected in April against the background of rising costs for goods and services, which led to the largest annual increase in five years. The Ministry of Labor reported that the final producer demand price index rose 0.5% last month after a 0.1% decrease in March. The PPI increased by 2.5% in the 12 months to April, which is the highest since February 2012, after moving in March by 2.3%. Economists predicted an increase in the producer price index by 0.2% per month and an increase of 2.2% compared to last year.

However, new applications for unemployment benefits in the US unexpectedly fell last week, and the number of repeated applications for unemployment benefits reached a minimum of 28.5 years, indicating a rapid tightening of the labor market, which could push the Fed to raise rates in June . Initial applications for unemployment benefits fell by 2,000 people and, taking into account seasonal fluctuations, reached 236,000 for the week ending May 6, the Ministry of Labor said. Data for the previous week has not been revised. Economists predicted that new applications for unemployment benefits will increase to a level of 245,000.

Most components of the DOW index finished trading in the red (18 of 30). Most fell shares of Microsoft Corporation (MSFT, -1.38%). Leader of the growth were shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK, + 0.80%).

Most sectors of the S & P index registered a decline. The conglomerate sector fell most of all (-1.3%). The maximum increase was demonstrated by the utilities sector (+ 0.1%).

At closing:

DJIA -0.11% 20.919.96 -23.15

Nasdaq -0.22% 6,115.96 -13.18

S & P -0.21% 2,394.55 -5.08

U.S. stock-index futures fell as weak earnings of the largest U.S. department store operator Macy's (M) weighed on the retail sector.

Stocks:

Nikkei 19,961.55 +61.46 +0.31%

Hang Seng 25,125.55 +110.13 +0.44%

Shanghai 3,061.74 +8.95 +0.29%

S&P/ASX 5,878.34 +2.90 +0.05%

FTSE 7,383.56 -1.68 -0.02%

CAC 5,389.08 -11.38 -0.21%

DAX 12,739.67 -17.79 -0.14%

Crude $47.77 (+0.93%)

Gold $1,221.00 (+0.17%)

(company / ticker / price / change ($/%) / volume)

Upgrades:

Caterpillar (CAT) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill

Exxon Mobil (XOM) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill

Downgrades:

Home Depot (HD) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Atlantic Equities

Other:

European stocks closed with small gains Wednesday, helping the region's benchmark to a fresh 21-month high. The Stoxx Europe 600 index SXXP, +0.16% edged up 0.2% to finish at 396.45, its highest closing level since August 2015. That comes after the pan-European gauge tacked on 0.5% on Tuesday. The index is up 9.7% this year, after getting a boost ahead of markets-friendly Emmanuel Macron's victory in the French presidential election on Sunday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was trading in negative territory late Wednesday afternoon, weighed down by a late-afternoon slump in shares of Boeing Co., Walt Disney Co., and 3M Co. The trio of Dow DJIA, -0.16% components combined were cutting about 45 points from the blue-chip gauge, which was off 50 points, or 0.2% at 20,924.

Stocks in Asia were broadly higher Wednesday, as local drivers outpaced global geopolitical concerns, though shares in South Korea reversed early gains on investor caution following the presidential elections. Markets had a muted reaction to the unexpected firing of James Comey, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.